Today Ms Renteria’s Fourth Grade class studied Henri Matisse paper cut outs. The image we discussed was called Beasts of the Sea and it incorporated color, pattern, balance and joy. The children learned that Matisse started studying to be a lawyer. In 1889 he fell ill with appendicitis and his mother got him some art supplies to occupy his time. He fell in love with art and decided to become an artist. Matisse was influence by the great impressionists of the time like Vincent Van Gogh. He started painting with bright masses of colors that he use to express emotions. When he fell ill and could no longer paint he turned to paper cut out collages which he did from his bed and his wheelchair . Matisse was creating art until the day he died. I think the children did a wonderful job of channeling the ideals of Henri Matisse’s cutouts.
Thank you Ms. Toppel for another great session of Arts Matter at Saint Anne School.
